The Ultimate Wine Lover's Quiz

Wine has flowed through history and human culture, splashing into today's bottles in roughly the same form as it took in the days of Roman bacchanals. To the average person, enjoying a glass of wine with dinner or while relaxing with a good book is a casual pursuit of pleasure. But to others -- the wine lovers among us -- it's a far more ceremonious occasion. Such oenophiles will need to summon their breadth of knowledge about their favorite apéritif or risk tasting the Ultimate Wine Lover's Quiz's grapes of wrath.

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Question 1 of 10

When it comes to wine, you often get what you pay for. In 1985, a wine lover took that phrase to a whole new meaning, shelling out more than $156,000 on a single bottle. Why did it fetch such an astronomical price?

It reportedly once belonged to Thomas Jefferson.

The 1787 bottle of Chateau Lafitte, auctioned at Christie's in London, brought in a hefty price thanks to initials on the bottom, which allegedly belonged to Thomas Jefferson.

It was allegedly brought to the United States on Christopher Columbus' ship.

It was supposedly a gift from Winston Churchill to FDR.

Question 2 of 10

A little imbibing may do the body good. Word on the street is that a glass of red wine each day might benefit which color-coordinated organ?

liver

heart

Including a glass of red wine with dinner could be a smart move for your health regimen. Research indicates that red wine -- in moderation, of course -- may lower one's risk of heart disease.

lungs

Question 3 of 10

Wine racks are for amateurs; the mark of a true vino aficionado is a wine cellar. These days, the primary difference between cellars is what?

An easy way to spot a sommelier in a nice restaurant is to look for someone wearing a shallow, silver dish around his or her neck. Sommeliers tote around these accessories, called tastevins, for what purpose?

Tastevins signify if someone is a certified sommelier.

Tastevins serve as portable wine sample cups for sommeliers.

Tastevins are used to check for a wine's color and clarity.

Tastevins allow sommeliers to test wine for color and clarity. Some sources date the use of these wine accessories as far back as 300 B.C.

Question 5 of 10

Decanters make for attractive household accessories and also enhance the flavor of certain wines by allowing oxygen to react with the liquid. Which type of wine is the only one that requires decanting or aerating?

red wine

Only red wines need decanting because they're allowed to age longer in bottles before being served.

white wine

sparkling wine

Question 6 of 10

In 2006, scientists discovered that drinking red wine could potentially prolong longevity thanks to a compound called "resveratrol." Unfortunately, humans would have to guzzle about how much of the stuff per day to glean the benefits?

10 bottles

100 bottles

1,000 bottles

The study, published in the journal Nature, seemed like a ringing endorsement for a daily dose of red wine -- except that a single dose would amount to about 1,000 bottles of wine.

Question 7 of 10

Bottles of wine deserve some tender love and care for optimal drinking pleasure. Which of the following wine care steps is NOT correct?

Store wine bottles horizontally.

Store wine bottles in away from light sources.

Store wine bottles at room temperature.

Room temperature will probably be too warm for wine. Instead, try to keep it in a cooler environment, between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit (10 to 15.5 degrees Celsius).

Question 8 of 10

When considering what wine to pair with rich, heavy foods, what characteristic would the wise oenophile look out for?

full body

Rich foods call for full-bodied wines that have a well-rounded flavor and texture that linger in the mouth. Both reds and whites offer full-bodied varietals.

dark coloration

dryness

Question 9 of 10

Maintaining etiquette while chugging 12 to 18 different kinds of vino in an afternoon may seem like a nigh impossible challenge. But according to wine tour etiquette, which of the following is NOT acceptable behavior (besides getting thoroughly sloshed)?

requesting a second sample pour

critiquing the wines without being asked to

It's perfectly fine to ask for a second pour (but probably not a third or a fourth) and to spit out and pour out unwanted wine (in the appropriate receptacles). Offering unsolicited opinions about the petite syrah or shiraz and so on is quite uncouth, however.

pouring out any sample wine that doesn't tickle your fancy

Question 10 of 10

An experienced wine lover knows to smell a glass of wine before tasting. Once it finally comes time for that first mouthful, what should you do?

Only take a small sip of wine at first to acclimate your tongue to the flavor.

Drink a decent-sized gulp to experience all of the flavors.

Though it may seem polite to sip the wine at first, experts recommend a moderate gulp for the full flavor experience.

Lightly gargle it around to allow the liquid to strike all parts of your mouth.